Eastern Europe

Wine in the Czech Republic faced declining volume sales in 2023 as economic conditions worsened. The high cost-of-living drove consumers to cut back on purchases within the wine category. Current value growth was buoyed by increased prices due to…

In 2023, consumers in Slovenia increasingly shifted their preferences from wine to stronger spirits. This trend is particularly evident among the younger population, who consume alcohol primarily for social enjoyment and tend to prefer beverages with…

In spite of ongoing economic difficulties, wine in Slovakia managed to achieve modest growth in volume terms in 2023. Sales benefited from an excise tax hike on spirits, which served to make wine more affordable relative to the former, despite price…

Wine volume sales in Serbia rose moderately in 2023, driven by higher consumption in on-trade establishments where volumes returned to pre-pandemic levels. Despite the boost in on-trade sales, demand through the off-trade also remained stable with…

Volume sales of wine in Romania declined in 2023 with both the off-trade and on-trade suffering amid price hikes and consumers cutting back due to the rising cost of living. Romania is a major producer of wine and so locals are heavy wine drinkers…

Wine saw strong growth in current value terms in 2023 but this was the result of price hikes rather than an increase in demand with sales declining in total volume terms as financial pressures led to consumers adopting a more cautious approach to…

Local consumers showed a growing preference for wine over beer in 2023, which resulted in moderate total volume growth. Consumer demand for still red, white and rosé wines was robust, resulting in stable volumes in the off-trade, and even stronger…

In 2023, wine volume sales declined in Lithuania for a second consecutive year as demand patterns normalised in the post-pandemic era. Price inflation and weak economic conditions have also forced consumers to cut-back on wine consumption. Off-trade…

Wine is relatively mature in Latvia, with a range of varieties and wide choice of products at different price points. The recovery of horeca has provided strong sales momentum although on-trade volume sales have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.…

Total volume sales of wine fell slightly in Hungary in 2023. However, during the year, sparkling wine volume sales continued to grow, finally exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Sparkling wine consumption, traditionally reserved for celebrations and…

Throughout 2023, wine in Georgia witnessed a gradual recovery following the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Production of Georgian wine experienced growth, reaffirming its status as the most consumed alcoholic beverage in the country. However, a…

Wine sales stagnated in 2023. However, this is not entirely bad news – after intense growth over the historic period, the category was bound to reach a limit. Additionally, the challenging economic conditions in 2023 further influenced consumers'…

In 2023, wine sales in Croatia experienced notable growth, primarily driven by the tourism sector. The influx of tourists significantly boosted on-trade wine consumption, particularly in coastal regions renowned for their hospitality and wine…

Wine in Bulgaria continued to enjoy buoyant retail volume growth, underpinned by the recovery of on-trade sales following the pandemic. However, wine consumption through the on-trade still remained below 2019 levels as inflationary conditions and…

In 2023, wine in Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced a notable slowdown in consumer demand, although it remained comparatively stronger when compared to beer consumption trends. This shift in consumer preferences hinted at a gradual transition towards…

The challenging economic situation in the Czech Republic led to weaker demand for spirits in both the off-trade and on-trade in 2023. Czech households came under more intense financial pressure due to prevailing high inflation, with the price of…

In 2023, spirits emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories in alcoholic drinks in Slovenia. This surge in consumption is primarily driven by the perceived quality and association with status and sophistication. Rum and gin, in particular, have…

Total volume sales of spirits in Slovakia continued to decline in 2023, Growth was impacted by mounting inflationary pressures, which weighed heavily on consumer purchasing power, especially when it came to discretionary items. Excise taxes for…

Spirits volume sales slowed down in 2023 with the on-trade responsible for most of the growth in Serbia. The on-trade sector is steadily recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and should see a full rebound in volume sales during 2024. With the rate of…

Spirits suffered from inflationary pressures in 2023 with higher input costs associated with energy and raw materials driving up average prices in Romania. Excise duty also increased in January 2023 which contributed to price growth and the weaker…